The Bauma Conexpo Show in India – bC India – held during February 8 to 11 at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai exceeded all expectations: More than 22,000 visitors from 69 countries attended the first edition of the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles.The event was a joint venture between Messe München International (MMI) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
Thomas Löffler, Chief Executive Officer of the show organizer bC Expo India and Deputy CEO of MMI India, said: “The result shows clearly that our decision to launch bC India just came at the right time. Furthermore, the number of exhibitors as well as the feedback from all participants proved beyond doubt that bC India added a new dimension to the construction industry.”
The joint venture partners were also highly satisfied with the outcome of the show. “bC India proves to be a premium platform for the construction machinery industry in India by setting new organizational standards,” said Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of MMI.
Dennis Slater, President of AEM, said the overall numbers are outstanding, and “I am convinced that bC India will indeed play a very important role in the Indian market in the days to come”.
In particular, the quality of business visitors and the facilities offered were highly appreciated by the exhibitors. By offering free of cost pre-registration and charging an entrance fee to non-pre-registered visitors, a high professional level of business visitors was achieved.
“The quality of visitors has been extremely good, thanks to the restricted entry policy”, said V. Venkataramana, Vice-President of Puzzolana. Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director and CEO of Wirtgen India. “All the visitors at our booth were 100 per cent quality visitors.”
All the participants in the show were extremely satisfied with the facilities provided both within the exhibition complex and outside. “The way it has been organised is excellent, and I recommend this event to all equipment manufacturers. We will come back”, said José Luis del Prim, CEO of Enarco and President of the Committee for European Construction Equipment CECE.
bC India also turned out to be a perfect platform for doing real business: “bC India is not only an image branding show but also a selling show. Although the show is still running, we have been able to sell 207 units so far”, stated Dr. Thomas Schulz, President Construction at Sandvik.
To meet the growing demand from exhibitors in the run-up to the show, the bC India exhibition space was extended to a total of around 88,000 square metres. All in all, 508 exhibitors from over 30 countries showcased their latest products and innovations in machinery and equipment for construction, mining and building materials. In addition, the show turned out to be the most international in nature within the construction exhibition sector in India, as 70 per cent of the registered exhibitors were from overseas.
The international character of this trade fair was underlined with the participation of nine national pavilions, from Australia, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain and the UK, all showcasing state-of-the-art technology of their respective countries.
Michael Schmid-Lindenmayer, Managing Director of Putzmeister India, said: “India definitely needed an event like bC India.”
An ideal platform
bC India was indeed a platform for decision-makers and industry experts. It was the perfect place to gain a better understanding of the booming construction market in India. The quality, variety and sheer volume of attendees made it the best place to develop new business contacts and take advantage of the strong market demand.
True, the rapid growth of the construction sector is creating enormous sales potential for manufacturers of construction machinery. The increase in sales of earth-moving equipment by 17 per cent and construction vehicles and mining equipment by 53 per cent demonstrates the immense potential for all segments of the construction industry in India.
More than Euros 140 billion is invested in energy and infrastructure sectors, and the construction industry growth rate is higher compared to the overall growth rate in India. With the 10 per cent expected annual growth for commercial and industrial construction (2010-2015), the Indian economy quickly regains the momentum needed.
India, with its population enjoying huge purchasing power, attracts large investors from all over the world. Investments in various infrastructure segments are projected at an impressive Euros 140 billion in 2010 – Euros 100 billion for the energy sector, Euros 17-21 billion for road construction, Euros 5.7-7 billion for ports and Euros 10.7-14.3 billion for airports development.
Even though India is experiencing a slower growth rate due to the current economic downturn, it is expected to rise again within the next three to four years, thanks to the resilience of its economy. The growth rate forecast for the construction industry will exceed the overall GDP growth. Commercial and industrial construction segments are growing at an annual rate of approximately 10 per cent compared to six-seven per cent for residential construction.
